Employment: Young People

With around one million young people not in education, employment and training, this Government will not leave an entire generation of young people behind. The Government is investing an additional £2.5 billion by 2029 into the Youth Guarantee and the Growth and Skills Levy.

This investment will support almost one million young people and create up to 500,000 opportunities to earn and learn, including through expanded network of Youth Hubs, earlier intensive support in Jobs Centres through a new Youth Guarantee Gateway, additional work experience and training opportunities, a £3,000 Youth Jobs Grant and £2,000 apprenticeship hiring payment for employers, and a fully funded six month job for long-term unemployed 18–24-year-olds.

We also recognise the crisis of participation that Alan Milburn has so clearly laid out in his interim report. We will use this interim report to continue to build our reforms and look forward to final recommendations in the Autumn.

In Ayrshire, support is available through Jobcentres, specialist Youth Work Coaches, employment programmes, and services delivered in partnership with local authorities, colleges, and employers, including through Scotland's No One Left Behind approach and Local Employability Partnerships. We are also supporting economically inactive young people through dedicated Pathways Work Coaches, who help individuals overcome barriers to work, build skills and confidence, and progress towards employment.